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Senator Smith, the Klamath Basin and Rural Oregon
Conservationists Urge Senator to Base Decisions on Science, Not Politics
The recent statement by Senator Gordon Smith that he has "no regrets" about the 2002 Klamath fish kill has raised some eyebrows. His stance on Klamath water issues along with his promise to "work day and night for rural folks" prompted Oregon Wild to take a look at his record when it comes to serving rural Oregonians who rely on natural resources in the Klamath watershed.
Northcoast Environmental Center
Oregon Wild today issued a fact sheet and timeline highlighting Oregon Senator Gordon Smith’s record of flip-flopping in support of real solutions for the Klamath Basin’s water woes and for the rural communities dependent on the health of the Klamath River. Their effort also aims at dispelling mischaracterizations of the massive 2002 Klamath River salmon kill that have surfaced during the furor over Smith’s statement that he had “no regrets” regarding the federal water decisions in the Klamath that led to disastrous closures of Oregon’s commercial salmon seasons in 2005 and 2006.
In the last few days, dramatic leadership shifts in U.S. Congress have give even more cause for scrutiny of Smith’s statements and record on the Klamath. Following Idaho Senator Larry Craig’s apparent resignation, Senator Smith revealed to The Oregonian that he is ready to be “the new go-to guy in the U.S. Senate for timber and other Northwest natural-resource industries.” Smith went on to say that he felt very keenly the responsibility to “work day and night for rural folks.”
While Smith may fulfill that responsibility for big industry supporters, Smith’s lopsided record shows that rural families dependent on the Klamath’s natural resources can’t always rely on the Senator. Smith and our other leaders need to demonstrate consistent support for coastal communities as well as our inland farming communities. Too often he has sacrificed their interests in favor of agribusiness.
Under the Bush administration, the conflict over the Klamath’s limited water resources has become a high-stakes political issue. Smith’s recent statements are a sad indication of the degree that politics has subverted science and responsible policy in the Klamath. Given the charged political atmosphere, Oregon Wild urges reporters to judge claims made by all sides with a critical eye. To that end, the attached fact sheet and timeline provide further detail and reference information.
Follow the links to read more about Smith and the Klamath:
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